Columbus- Senator Michael J. Skindell (D-Lakewood) and State Representative Robert F. Hagan (D-Youngstown) introduced legislation today in the Senate and House of Representatives addressing the concerns of many Ohioans regarding the chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing by the oil and gas industry. The legislation calls for removing the gag order that was placed on medical professionals through SB 315 and expands the reporting requirements for oil and gas well permits.

"It's the responsibility of state lawmakers to protect the health and well being of Ohioans and that's why I am calling for full disclosure of the chemicals used in gas and oil drilling,” said Senator Skindell. “Doctors need to know what chemicals are being used so they can treat their patients. We can't allow corporate secrets to endanger public safety."

This legislation would also expand how medical professionals can access the chemical information they need to properly treat their patients. Additionally it broadens the reasons for which a medical professional can request this information and the ways in which a patient can be deemed adversely affected.

“It’s bad public health policy for legislators to take prescriptions from the oil and gas industry, and that’s exactly what they did when writing the gag order,” said Rep. Hagan. “Ohioans would be better served by doctors deciding what is right for their patients, not by oil and gas executives trying to suppress vital medical information. We certainly don’t use family physicians to operate rotary rigs, so I don’t see why we should let oil tycoons decide what kind of information is medically necessary.”

The bills provide, that at the onset of the application process, the owner of a well disclose all chemical information used in both well stimulation and well drilling. Owners would also be expected to supply the Ohio Department of Natural Resources with a full list of chemicals including those deemed to be proprietary. The legislation requires the following information to be reported:

The chemical’s name, the chemical abstracts service number, the chemical family name, the trade name and the vendor

A brief description of the chemical’s intended use or function

The proposed quantity to be used, reported as a percentage, by weight or volume, of the total fluid

Additionally, the legislation centralizes all chemical information, including proprietary information, with the chief of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. This will allow medical professionals to have timely access from a single source so they have the necessary tools to make quick and effective decisions.

Columbus – Today, State Senator Michael J. Skindell (D-Lakewood) is calling on Lakewood City Council to reject plans to close Lakewood Hospital in 2016. Speaking at a city council meeting last night, Senator Skindell said there was no need to close Lakewood Hospital and called the closure plans misguided.

Columbus – Today, Ohio Senator Michael J. Skindell (D-Lakewood) called on Lakewood City Officials and the Lakewood Hospital Association to stop plans to close Lakewood Hospital. Lakewood residents joined Senator Skindell for a press conference outside the hospital to voice their support for keeping the facility open.

Columbus – Today, the Ohio Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 352, a highway-naming bill to honor fallen heroes from across the state including Army Specialist Angel L. Lopez of Cleveland. At the request of Senator Michael J. Skindell (D-Lakewood) and Senator Tom Patton (R-Strongsville), the bill was amended to designate a portion of Interstate 71 within the corporation limits of Cleveland as the “Specialist Angel L. Lopez Memorial Highway.”